Jonathan Frederic De Santos

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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday called the China Coast Guard’s obstruction of medical evacuation from Ayungin Shoal an “act of barbarism.” </p><p>It also rejected Beijing’s claim that it had permitted the operation involving injured Philippine Navy personnel saying it was not China&#x27;s to give.</p><p>PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela said the evacuation was a humanitarian mission conducted within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><p>“For me, this is an act of barbarism. This is an act of a pirate. This is very uncalled for any coast guard personnel in different parts of the world,” Tarriela said during a press briefing in Manila. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/philippines-clash-has-not-changed-south-china-sea-code-hopes-chinese-envoy-0820">Philippines clash &#x27;has not changed&#x27; South China Sea code hopes: Chinese envoy<br/></a></div><p>He said coast guards are for law enforcement and for maritime safety, but “what they’re doing is harming people and jeopardizing the safety of personnel.”</p><p>The statement came after the CCG claimed that it had allowed the medical evacuation “out of humanitarian considerations.”</p><p>“We don’t need any permission from anybody because this is being conducted within our EEZ, and it is in accordance with UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Tarriela stressed.</p><p>“All vessels at sea are customarily expected to support and not to impede a medical evacuation,” he added.</p><p>The official said the PCG vessel BRP Melchora Aquino repeatedly issued radio announcements before reaching Ayungin Shoal, informing all vessels in the area that it was conducting a medical evacuation.</p><p>The advisory reminded nearby vessels of their obligation under international law to assist and not obstruct humanitarian and life-saving operations.</p><p>“We did not ask any agreement or cooperation with the CCG or any other watercraft in the vicinity,” Tarriela said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/ayungin-shoal-incident-brought-up-in-asean-meeting-2030">Ayungin Shoal incident brought up in ASEAN meeting</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CCG BOAT OBSTRUCTED MEDEVAC</strong></div><p>The PCG deployed the BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua following Monday’s confrontation at Ayungin Shoal that left two Philippine Navy personnel injured.</p><p>According to Tarriela, four China Coast Guard vessels were in the area during the evacuation.</p><p>While the Chinese vessels did not conduct dangerous maneuvers against the PCG ships, CCG vessel 5308 deployed a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) that interfered with the Philippine operation.</p><p>“So, this RHIB of the CCG, despite the medical emergency, despite international and customary laws, hampered the medical evacuation of our injured personnel.”</p><p>Despite the obstruction, the PCG successfully transferred the two injured Navy personnel at around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21.</p><p>On Wednesday morning, the PCG vessel arrived at Oyster Bay in Palawan, where the injured soldiers were turned over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).</p><p>The entire medical evacuation mission took about 42 hours from deployment to completion.</p><p>One of the personnel suffered a head laceration measuring around seven to eight centimeters, while both sustained trauma from the incident.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/ph-navy-officer-sustains-head-injury-after-confrontation-with-china-coast-guard-1605">PH Navy personnel injured after China Coast Guard baton attack at Ayungin Shoal</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PCG REPORTS STARLINK DISRUPTION</strong></div><p>The official also disclosed that the PCG’s Starlink internet connectivity was disrupted while approaching Ayungin Shoal.</p><p>Tarriela said the connection was lost when the PCG vessels reached a distance of 11 nautical miles northeast of the shoal and was restored only after the successful evacuation of the injured personnel.</p><p>“According to our monitoring of our internet connectivity, it says it is already a restricted location, that’s why we can no longer connect to the internet,” he explained.</p><p>According to the official, the PCG has experienced similar connectivity issues near Bajo de Masinloc, but stressed that this was the first time it documented such a disruption in Ayungin Shoal.</p><p>“Most likely, it has something to with the Chinese government blocking the internet connectivity in the area of Ayungin Shoal,” Tarriela said. “It took us five hours [before]the internet connectivity was restored.”</p><p>He said the matter has been raised with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which will coordinate with Starlink.</p><p>Despite the latest confrontation, Tarriela said the Philippine government remains committed to pursuing diplomatic engagement with China.</p><p>He noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had summoned the Chinese ambassador following Monday’s incident.</p><p>“As a Coast Guard officer and as a Filipino, I think diplomatic engagement remains to be our most important tool in resolving our differences and the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela said.</p>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday called the China Coast Guard’s obstruction of medical evacuation from Ayungin Shoal an “act of barbarism.”</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday called the China Coast Guard’s obstruction of medical evacuation from Ayungin Shoal an “act of barbarism.”

PGC calls China Coast Guard attempt to block medevac 'act of barbarism'

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PGC calls China Coast Guard attempt to block medevac 'act of barbarism'

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 22, 2026 03:21 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Coast Guard

China Coast Guard

Ayungin Shoal

Jay Tarriela

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